Headlight-operating device.



H. 1). PETERS. HEADLIGHT OPERATING DEVICE. APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 11. ,1911.

1,037,047. p Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

I I M imirsn snares rnia vr @FFTQEE.

HOLIDAY D. PETERS, OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

HEADLIGI-iT-OPERATIN G DEVICE.

rounds curves in order that the beams of light may be thrown directly in advance of the vehicle. A

The invention has for its primary object a simple, durable and eflicient construction of an automobile headlight turning device which may be easily manufactured and susceptible of easy attachment to the. framework of an automobile.

The invention has for a further object a device of this character the construction of which allows for automatically compensating for the wear'within" the mechanism, thus insuring a quietly operating device. With these and'ot-her ob eecs 1n view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangementsnandcombina tions of the parts that Ishall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the inven tion reference is to be had tofthe following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows my improved light turning device attached to an automobile; Fig. 2 shows a vertical section of the lamp sup porting bracket; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of said bracket with the casing removed; and Fig. 4 shows the angular fiat spring of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated ini'a'll the. views of the/accompanying drawing by the same reference characters.

My improved device includesa support- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 11, 1911.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912. Serial no. 643,599.

ing bracket embodying a vertically disposed face, designated by the numeral 1, a socket 2 the upper part of which is formed with a tapering extremity 2, and an angularly extending base 3, said bracket being detach-' ably mounted to the frame 4 of the automobile. A vertically disposed post 5, providcd at its upper end with the usual lamp supporting arms 6 and near its lower end constructed with a square shoulder ,7, is 1ournaled in the socket 2 and has its lower cylindrical extremity 7 journaled in the base 3. The post 5 is provided with a flange or collar 8 the internal surface of which is beveled to fit over the tapered end of the socket 2, which construction insures a tight fit between the partsand prevents the em trance of dirt and the like. A horizontally disposed arm 9 is detachably mounted on the square shoulder 7 of the post 5 and secured thereto preferably by a pin.

A horizontally disposed arm 10 is rigidly attached to the post 5 at a point intermediate the lamp supporting arms 6 and the collar 8 and at right angles to the arm- 9, said arm 10 forming a connection to the other lamp bracket, whereby motion is transmit-.

ted to the same. A downward tension is at all times maintained on the post 5 through *a coiled spring 11 which encircles said post and bears at its ends against the lower wall of the socket- 2 and the arm 9, thereby tend ing to draw down on the post 5 and hold the collar 8 in engagement with the tapered end of the'socket 2 about which it is designed to fit.

Acting at a right angle to the coiled spring 11 is an angular flat spring 11' mounted horizontally on the vertical face 1 of the supporting bracket and bearing with its free end against the square butt end of the arm 9, the surface of said spring being normally parallel. thereto, and in its action tending to maintain the arm 9 at a right angle to the face of said spring, in which position the vehicle lamps are causel to face straight ahead. A casing 12, a formed as'to closely inclose the space intermediate the socket 2, base 8 and face 1, is

detachably connected to said face and is also provided with a segmental slot 12- throng which the arm 9 operates. This casing could of course be constructed integral with the lamp bracket, but when detachable "as in 1 the present construction ready access to the working parts of the device is allowed and the latter may be easily dismantled when desired.

, The arm 9 is preferably pivotally connected by means of a rod 13 to a steering arm 14 of the automobile steering gear and derives its motion therefrom. It'is to. be

, understood of course that the construction tached to rotate,

is not limited to this method ofconnecting the arm 9 to the steering arm 14, as the same would be determined by the typeof automobile to which the devlce is to be attached.

From the foregoing description in connection with theaccompanymg drawing, the

operation of my improved headlight turning device, will be apparent.

-When the steering arm 14 is moved in steering the automobile, the rod 13 is correspondlngly actuated, either moving forward or backward as the automobile, is

steered to the right or to the left. The 'rod two lamps in un son, as when the actuating.

bracket is turned, the other bracket, being pivotally connected, is turned in a corresponding direction.

The coiled spring 11 mounted between the socket 2 and the arm 9 on the post 5 tends 'tO draw down on said post, thereby holding the collar 8 in engagement with the tapered end of the socket 2 about which itclosely fits. worninfoperatiomthe action of this spring Should the bracket become will com ensate for said wear, thus insurmg a quletlyoperatlng device which engages the The flat spring 11 rectangular end of the arm 9 tends to retain said arm in a position at a right angle to the working face' of 'th'e spring, so that if the connections between the steering device and the lamp become worn and-lost mo 'tion results, thus allowing the vehicle wheels to turn independently-of the lamp bracket, said spring tends to hold the post 5. in a fixed position and thus maintaining the lamps in a straight ahead position during slight turns of the vehicle wheels.

It will here be noted that the attaching face 1 of the bracket is, provided with an angularly disposed base 3 s aced from the lower end of the socket 2 an provided with abearing adapted to receive the lower end two bearings for the post and providing a chamber between the bearings in' which the operating mechanismis disposed. This chamber and the parts'contained therein is entirely housed and protected by the detachappearance, cient in its operation.

Havingthus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

bracket having an attaching member, and provided with a socket having a tapered upper extremity forming a bearing, a lamp carrying post journaled in said socket and provided with an overhanging flange enencircling the post tendingto normally and yieldably holdthe flange in contact with the bearing.

disposed base extending therefrom, the inner face of which is provided with a bearspaced from the base to form an internal the socket and extending through the chamher for engagement with 'thebearing inthe base, said post being provided with an overhanging flange adapted to engage the upfor normally and yieldably holding. said flange in engagement-with the socket.

3. A headlight turning device including an attaching member having an angularly idisposedibase extending therefrom, the inner'face of the'base belng provided'with a bearing, a socket carriedby said member andjspaced from the base to form an intervber and engaging the bearing in the base,

ing flange adapted to engage the upper end of the socket, means disposed within the mally and yieldably holding said flange in engagement with the socket, and a casing detachably secured to the attaching member ahd inclosing the chamber.

4. A headlight turning device embodying an attaching member having a socket, a slotted casing connecting the socket and post mounted in the socket and assing through said chamber, a portior 7f e post section, an arm extending through the slotin the casing and engaging the angular porof the lamp carrying post 5, thus affording 5/ chamber, a lamp carrying post mounted in- 'nal chamber, a lamp carrying postmounted in the socket, extending through the chamu said post being provided with an overhangable ca'singlQ secured to the face 1, thus completing a device neat and compact in? and simple, durable and efli-f' 1. A headlight turning device including a 7 gaging the bearing of the socket, and means below-the socket and 2. A headlight turning device including an attaching member having an angularly ing, alsocket carried by said member and.

er end'of the socket, and means disposed within the chamber and encircling the post chamber and encircling the post for nor- I base of the attaching member and defining an intermediate chamber, a lamp carry ng within the chamber being angular in cross be tion of the post, a spring encircling the post In testimony whereof, I efiix my signemye andI bearinghaganst the lower enfd 12f the in presence of two witnesses. ,soc et and te a jacent portiono t e 0perating arm, and aseconds ring secured to HOLIDAY PETERS 5 the attaching member andi iearlng with its Witnesses:

free end against the inner end of the op- ALMA KIRKEBY, erating arm. 0. A. HAYWARD.

Uopics 0f thi patent may be obtained for in cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Meshing-foil, D. G." 

